Lifestyle

Indonesia's Coordinating Minister, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, touts the nation's robust post-pandemic economic recovery at the UAE-Indonesia Economic Business Forum 2023, highlighting strong growth and investment potential.

In a landmark ruling, Lina Mukherjee, an Indonesian TikTok influencer, has been sentenced to two years in prison and fined IDR 250 million (US$16,200) for her contentious video, where she uttered "bismillah" before eating pork, igniting a debate on religious insensitivity in Indonesia.

The potential partnership between Ganjar Pranowo of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) and Prabowo Subianto in the 2024 Presidential Election is a topic of discussion. At a recent campaign meeting, Pranowo acknowledged the ongoing discourse and stressed that in politics, "anything is possible" until confirmed by the General Election Commission (KPU).

In the recent reversal involving POFMA and the East Asia Forum, Singapore's legal approach has raised questions. The differential treatment between local and foreign entities, combined with apparent selective enforcement, raises concerns about the nation's commitment to the rule of law versus the rule by law.

Chinese activists Sophia Huang Xueqin and Wang Jianbing face trial for "inciting subversion of state power," raising health concerns after two years in detention. The closed-door trial heightens worries about China's shrinking civil society space.

A Geylang restaurant, Fok Lok Kee Private Kitchen, accidentally overcharged two customers, seeking them through social media for a refund of S$840. Despite being given a receipt, customers hadn't returned after two days. The restaurant turned to social media for help. They plan to contact the card company for a partial refund if needed. The delay in their Facebook post was said to be unintentional and clarified to be due to discrepancies in posting and transaction dates. Fortunately, the issue has been resolved using PayNow instead of the bank refund process.

During her honeymoon in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, a Chinese national woman uncovered hidden cameras in her Airbnb accommodation, sparking concerns about privacy and safety while traveling. The discovery left both her and her husband deeply distressed.

Japanese tourist Junko Shinba and her group faced a pricing dispute at Seafood Paradise in Clarke Quay when ordering chili crab. They claimed the restaurant staff failed to clarify the pricing of the Alaskan King Crab, leading to a shocking bill of $938 for the crab dish alone. The total bill was $1,322.37. Shinba requested police intervention, and the restaurant offered a $107.40 discount. However, the Paradise Group, which owns the restaurant, disputed her claims, stating they communicated the price and weight clearly. The Consumers Association of Singapore is investigating the incident.

Finance influencer Seth Wee embarked on an unorthodox mission to test the practicality of Singapore's LKY100 commemorative coin. His quirky payment experiment left cashiers bewildered and sparked questions about the coin's legal tender status.

Singaporean record breaking long-distance runner Soh Rui Yong has reaffirmed his absence from the upcoming Asian Games as Singapore Athletics has announced its team for the competition held in Hangzhou, China. Despite appeals backed by Singapore Athletics in July this year, the Singapore National Olympic Council's decision remained unaltered. Nonetheless, Mr Soh remains positive and extends best wishes to his fellow Singapore Athletics teammates

Singapore's vibrant Chinatown, affectionately known as "牛车水," recently dazzled with Mid-Autumn Festival decorations. However, a lantern decoration on Upper Cross Street came loose, leading to double-decker bus disruptions and commuter frustrations on Thursday.